John Rutter: This Is The Day (SATB)

"This, of course, is "the anthem" composed by Rutter for the Royal Wedding last year. It's got Rutter's trademark lyrical melodies, chromatically downward-moving basslines and modulations to unexpected keys, eg from B flat to D major. The changes of mood put one in mind of Wesley's large-scale Victorian anthems: compare, for example, the 'Being born again' passage of Wesley's 'Blessed be the God and Father', with Rutter's 'The Lord Himself is my keeper'.

The anthem is bound to be well-received, imbued as it is with the patriotic wedding associations as well as being by one of Britain's favourite sacred composers."

Rating:    5/7/2012 By: Dr Karen E McAulay